GOOD news from Northern Ireland (1–8 Jan)

Belfast International Airport was named as the fifth busiest airport in the UK for domestic passenger traffic. The four airports above Belfast International in the Civil Aviation Authority’s league table are, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

5.1m passengers travelled through Belfast International in
2016, a 17% increase from the previous year. Managing Director, Graham Keddie was delighted with the news:

“Small to medium sized businesses are doing more business in GB and we’re able to get them to their target markets at hugely competitive rates…the benefits are appreciable, which is one reason why Belfast International is enjoying such growth.”

The Dead Rabbit

Great news for the guys behind, ‘The Dead Rabbit’. Multiple winner of the world’s best bar, The Dead Rabbit in New York is the brainchild of two hot shot bartenders from Belfast who took a chance to move to New York and realise their dream. This week they announced they’re returning to Belfast next month to record a programme with CNN showing off their favourite bars. They’ll have plenty to choose from!

The programme is expected to be broadcast on St Patricks Day.

Game Of Thrones ‘a great saviour’ for local farmer

We’re used to hearing about the impact Game Of Thrones has had on the tourism industry in Northern Ireland.
This week we heard from a farmer who says the hit fantasy TV series saved his farm. Kenny Gracey from Forthill farm is the man that supplies the rare breeds that often feature in Game of Thrones and other productions. All animals that feature in Game Of Thrones have a home for life on the farm. Check out this video from sky news.

Profits up for food producers

Two of Northern Ireland’s largest food producers posted combined profits of £10m this week. Dungannon meat processor, Dunbia recorded
£5.5m profit for 2016 while Lurgan firm, Avondale which supplies virtually every major UK supermarket with soups, sauces, coleslaw and salads finished
2016 with a bottom line profit of £4.3m.

Similar results are expected across the industry following Tourism NI’s 2016 ‘Year Of Food’ campaign.